January 28, 2013
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Cool and Christian? The search for the flying unicorn
Teens in the American Christian subculture often find themselves looking for ways to be Cool and Christian at the same time. There are many books, magazines, conferences, and events aimed at Christian teens (and pitifully few aimed at Christian 20-somethings, which is a good topic for another post). The models wear more clothes, the singers don't swear, but in many ways the Christian cool kids are generically interchangeable with their secular cool counterparts.
However, I think it becomes impossible to maintain long-term coolness and Christianity. It's possible to avoid the hot-button topics, but there are just so many of them. And even if a Christian comes across as non-judgmental, their reluctance to do certain things limit how cool they can become. It's not enough to not judge him/her: you also have to support him/her, and do the same things as him/her.
Finally, the question is, what is it worth to be cool and Christian? Are cool people that influential? Will people truly like Christians more if a handsome gold medalist or creative singer happens to be Christian? Sadly, perhaps the American Christian subculture has been chasing a flying unicorn. Even when Christians achieve coolness in mainstream eyes, it's not for long. There are just too many differences between subculture and established culture. Perhaps it's time that the American Christian subculture stops selling the "Cool and Christian" package and instead adopts the more realistic "Cool or Christian" package.
Comments (13)
This is very insightful. I think it would be a good idea to use other teens. And not in hokey ways, either. I mean, showing made up scenarios is good and all, but nothing like that ever happened to me, personally. I was never pressured to drink and was only pressured to do drugs in college and afterward. I think faith needs to be less of an excuse NOT to do something. A person must make a commitment to themselves, to respect themselves and their own lives.
It is totally possible to be cool and Christian!
Me, cool and Christian it's whats up!!! OH and I have a lump on my forehead... Maybe I AM a unicorn.
Sadly I've never been considered cool and Americans don't believe Russians are religious so that's strike two. I wish I could give more insight because I tend to agree I'm just not part of either group so to speak.
I'm consider a cool Christian even at my age. I've never had any trouble being acceptable to the 'cool' people over the decades. I've had a lot of fun with them.
Lolm I'm not Christian [I'm Buddhist] but I strongly agree that it's silly to portray a religion as "being cool". I think most people think I'm cool, but in a very nerdy sense. Everyone has a different concept of what "cool" is, I think the trick is to surround yourself with like-minded people. If I talk to people who go clubbing, out to raves and drinking, then I'm a total outsider because I don't do those things. But if I talk to other working parents, college students, Buddhists or even people my age who live their life with a spiritual motivation, i think yeah- this is pretty cool =]
I don't understand culture at large or Christian subculture or really any other culture or subculture.
That depends on how you define cool. Interesting video on the subject: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Af3ZG47oT7I
Totally agree....in fact I will go one step further and say if you are trying to be one you can not be be the other, mainly because the two are at times diametrically opposed. Cheers
I'm cool...ish. But by society's standards it's definitely not because I'm Christian.
And actually if I posted, on Facebook, my belief on all the popular topics then I definitely wouldn't be cool anymore. I'd lose all cool points from my non Christian friends, lol.
Are you saying Christians have no swag? Damn i still think jesus was/is the most coolest awesome amazing dude ever!
I think cool is a matter of perception. its perfectly cool to choose not to drink, drug, or have sex as a teen, or at any age for that matter, but its not too cool to do what I like to call 'beat people over the head with the bible' in defense of those choices. and if people choose to ostracize based upon your choices, are they really cool themselves? why would someone want to surround themselves with people who don't respect their convictions and choices? plenty of kids who drink etc are friends with kids who don't.
I really feel for Christian kids these days. There's just such bad stereotypes about who and what a Christian is and supports. I just encourage the teens in my life to be real and always act in kindness. I think that speaks volumes. Coolness is elusive for even those who aren't labeled as Christians.
i wrote something about this once n Miller's Blue Like Jazz.. he tries tooo hard to make Christianity cool or acceptable
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